Party!

Wow! What a full weekend. We headed up to Montana for Desmond's birthday party but had to do the obligatory doctor visit first. We left first thing on Friday. Did a lunch and nap stop and then headed straight to the doctor's office. Waited and waited and waited but finally got in (yes, we had an appointment but they were "behind") and impressed the doc with our boys' abilities. Then we had to stay in the exam room to get blood drawn which went as well as it could. The nice part was that the phlebotomist got both boys on the first try. All that made for a late bedtime but it had to be done.

Friday night we stayed up late decorating for the birthday boy and making party preparations. Saturday morning dawned with excitement and the birthday boy was up bright and early immediately enamored with the decorations (especially the balloons). Last minute party details were taken care of then - we partied. Presents first (what else with a 2 year old?) saving a particular big one from Gramps and Gma till the end that enclosed a ride-on fire truck with many bells and whistles. Once that was opened the boy's attention was lost for good. =) Then we had cake (made by yours truly)! The boy blew out the candles like a pro (we've been working on it for awhile). =)

We ended up with an open afternoon after naps (we had hoped to have more company but it didn't work out) and found out about a corn maze with animals and kid stuff less than a mile away so ... we went for a short while to watch pigs race, slide down the big slide, look at the corn and do the kiddie maze. Des loved it all as did Jax.

While doing all our running around Marc noticed that the brakes weren't quite right and the tough decision was made to stay another day to get it fixed. It was a tough decision because Marc had hoped to get some catching up done at work and home. Sunday we went to church and finished our errands. We also worked in a trip to Cabella's to see all the animals and fish (which are a big hit with little boys!).

Monday Marc was up bright and early to take the car in. When it was done we had barely enough time to pack and leave by 1p (nap time)! Home again to unpack and get back to the grind. We have spent our week playing with birthday presents and encouraging Jax to keep on the move. He is pulling himself up on everything in sight and gets livid if I don't let him walk from place to place (I have to hold his hands still).

I think I have some funny video to upload but I have to sort through them all first. In the meantime here are some pics.

Jax enjoying the balloons as much as Desmond.

Dirt cake! With a beloved dump truck.

Desmond enjoying his cake.

Balloon fun before bedtime.

Jax showing off his great posture.

Favorite activity at Cabella's: watching fish.

Other favorite activity at Cabella's: walking the long aisles. =)

Happy Birthday Desmond!

I am completely embarrassed by the mess of our birthday dinner (pancakes because that's the boy's favorite) in the background but .... here is the video, anyway, of Desmond turning 2 (you don't actually get older till you blow out the candles - did you know that?). We are having our "big" family party this weekend but today is his birthday and we celebrated with his first ice cream: 2 scoops (cuz he's 2) in a dump truck (one of his favorite things right now). Low on creativity but we only had a small amount of time between dad being home and bed time so.... look for party pics (and more creative birthday things) this weekend. =) PS he is saying "fire, fire."

Desmond doing his emotional impressions, I think its funny that "mad" and "sad" are identical.

Sleep Nazi

I am in a self made prison.** Marc refers to me as the sleep nazi. I am very protective of my children's sleep schedule for many reasons the most important of which is their mood! I never thought much of this schedule.... after all I am in rural Wyoming, not much to do so not much to miss out on! I went to Montana to get things done and it suddenly hit me: I am in a self made prison! Wake time plus eating, dressing, morning nap, lunch, afternoon nap, dinner, bath and bed equals almost no free time enough to do anything! Especially when you have travel time in the "big" city. How frustrating! But we did get some people time in none-the-less. We got a couple play dates, trip to the park and a trip to Costco in during our "window of opportunity."

I hosted a women's night out at our church the weekend before we went to Montana. Gpa Michael drove down to drop off Nana to help with the event and to stay for the weekend. We had a nice time with our company and with the Ladies Night Out. About 21 ladies came and participated and there was much laughter that night! =) We are looking forward to the next one.

Marc continues full time in the musical and the boys and I are still full time into life exploration. Our mornings consist of getting chores done and the afternoons are filled with crawling lessons for Jaxter. Desmond, I think, has more fun with these physical therapy sessions than Jax does. =) We have gotten snow this whole last week which has put a damper in our walk schedule but deer in our yard. Last night Desmond sat in his chair until 7pm watching the deer in the yard. We also go on little drives to the edges of town where the deer like to roam.

Desmond's vocabulary is growing and growing which is helpful but also complicates things when Marc and I are having a conversation. We have to spell certain words when we're around him. Like o-u-t-s-i-d-e, p-a-r-k and w-a-l-k. =) It is so fun to see what he learns on a daily basis.

Playing trucks with Nana.

Playdate 1.

Playdate 2.

Costco trip - luxury double cart.

Des and Dad having a laughing contest - very fun! I'll have to get a video of this sometime.

Cheese! =)

Marc won't be able to hold his own in a couple years! =)

**This is not a complaint merely a realization and explanation of my circumstances. =)